Leveling table top

ABSTRACT

Improvements in a leveling table top are disclosed. The adjustable leveling table top comprises a lower platform having a bottom portion and a top portion and an upper platform with a locking adjustable swivel mechanism centrally affixed there between. The upper and lower platforms are further coupled through sliding arms affixed to the left and right sides, wherein both sides have two sliding arms. The lower platform has a plurality of legs extending therefrom, and the upper platform has a bubble level. To create a level surface, the leveling table top is placed so that the legs engage a desired surface the upper platform is manipulated around the swivel mechanism while the lower platform remains stationary, upon reaching a sufficiently level position for the upper platform as determined by the bubble level, the swivel mechanism and the sliding arms are locked.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No.61/745,760 filed Dec. 24, 2012 the entire contents of which is herebyexpressly incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to improvements in a leveling table top. Moreparticularly, the present leveling table top provides a working surfacethat is adjustable to provide a level working surface when theunderlying surface is not level. Once the working surface is leveled aplurality of legs can be locked into place to create a rigid firmsurface that can accommodate loads placed at nearly any location on theworking surface.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 1.98

For many reasons a person needs level surface. The need for a levelsurface can be for a variety of reasons including but not limited toworking with a scale, working with liquids, cooking or hobbies. In manylocations the user is forced to work on uneven ground or on a surfacethat is not level. The need is usually temporary, but can extend for aperiod of time depending upon the circumstances. Determining level isusually performed with one or more bubble levels to determine the levelsurface. While determining the level surface is not particularlydifficult, but fixing the surface to allow the user to perform thedesired surface is a greater challenge.

A number of patents and or publications have been made to address theseissues. Exemplary examples of patents and or publication that try toaddress this /these problem(s) are identified and discussed below.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,182 issued on Jul. 26, 1994 for Sandor F. Weisz etal., discloses an Adjustable Leveling Foot Assembly. This patent usesfour discreet adjustable feet that are placed on each of the fourcorners of a platform. Each foot has a threaded screw that is raised orlowered to level the assembly. This patent does not allow for a quickadjustment of all the supports simultaneously and then lock thesupports.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,053 issued on Apr. 21, 1987 to Edwin S. Holleydiscloses a Tiltable Mount. The mount uses a semi-sphere in a socket. Auser unlocks the two components and, adjusts the relative angle betweenthe two components then squeezes the semi-sphere into the socket. Whilethis allows for a leveling adjustment, all of the locking forces existin the center of the mount. If a user applies force to one side of themount they can easily overcome the frictional locking force and upsetthe level surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,436 issued Apr. 10, 2001 to Wayne A Hembreediscloses a Leveling Platform. The leveling platform includes multipleexternally adjustable legs that provide a leveling structure. The patentis primarily intended for use to level a camping burner that is nestedor placed onto the platform. While this patent discloses a levelingplatform the leveling can't be performed from a central location andthen locking the legs. The platform works for a single purpose andprovides only a limited platform with a leg that extends above theplatform.

What is needed is a leveling table top that can quickly be leveled andthen firmly locked into position to provide a rigid locked flat surfacethat can support high loads placed at any location on the table topwithout compromising the level orientation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the leveling table top to create an adjustableleveling table top. The leveling table top creates a large flathorizontal surface that is useful for indoor and outdoor purposes forthe preparation and cooking of foods. The level table surface eliminatesthe tendency of eggs, pancakes, grease and other food items from runningto one side of a cooking pan or cooking surface. The leveling table topto be used on a picnic tables, truck beds, recreational vehicles, andcan even be directly placed upon the ground.

It is an object of the leveling table top to have upper and lowerframes. The lower frame is designed to sit directly upon a flat oruneven surface. The upper frame is then adjusted to a flat levelposition. The frame components can be made of nearly any materialincluding but not limited to metal, plastic or wood. The leveling tabletop can be made in multiple sizes including a size as small as one footby two feet or up to four feet by eight feet.

It is another object of the leveling table top to have a levelingmechanism. The leveling mechanism allows a user to view two-dimensionsof level using two separate X and Y axis levels or using amulti-directional bubble level to establish a leveled surface along bothaxis. The upper surface is then locked into place using a ball andsocket joint. Four separate adjustable legs located in each corner arethen locked into position using thumbscrews to provide stability to thetable top regardless of where load is placed on top of the table top.

It is still another object of the leveling table top to have multipleapplication and uses; in particular the leveling table top can be usedto hold cooking appliances such as, but not limited to, grills,griddles, recording equipment, geological, seismic, surveying equipmentand barbeques. The leveling table top can further be used to preparefood and is ideal for cleaning fish. The leveling table top allows usersto perform various hobbies such as beading that requires a nearly flatsurface to prevent beads from rolling off of the table.

Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with theaccompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the leveling table top.

FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the leveling table top.

FIG. 3 shows a top perspective view of the leveling table top.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the leveling table top.

FIG. 5 shows a first preferred embodiment of the adjustable legs.

FIG. 6 shows a second preferred embodiment of the adjustable legs.

FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of the gimbal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the leveling table top 10, FIG.2 shows a side perspective view of the leveling table top 10 and FIG. 3shows a top perspective view of the leveling table top 10. Theadjustable leveling table top 10 would be placed upon a nearlyhorizontal surface including picnic tables, truck tailgates, andrecreational vehicles or even directly on the ground where the feet orpads 40, 41 on the lower platform 21 make contact with the surface thatwill support the leveling table top 10. The leveling table top 10utilizes two different support platforms 20 and 21. While the platformsare shown as rectangular the platforms could also be formed in square,triangular, round or other desirable shapes. The upper platform 20 isshown as a flat planar surface; it is contemplated that the upperplatform 20 could have up-turned edges and corners to create a bowel orcollection tray.

The lower platform 21 sits firmly on the ground via swiveling feet 40with rubber pads, while the upper platform 20 is adjusted to a perfectlyflat posture using a ball 31 and socket 30 connection in conjunctionwith a bulls-eye bubble level 22. The ball 31 and socket 30 connectionsupports the upper platform 20 directly centered front to rear and leftto right. This allows the upper platform 20 to swivel in any direction,back and forth and left to right.

When the upper platform 20 is level, as indicated by the bulls-eyebubble level 22, the ball 31 and socket 30 is locked in place by movingknob 33 on the attached lever 32 to the left until it tightens. Then thefour adjustable legs 70-77, made up of angle joints 50-57 and lockingtelescoping arms 70-77 by tightening thumbscrews or knobs 60-63, withone in each corner, are also locked in place to provide support andstability. While four arms are shown and described, there could be asfew as three legs to more than four legs. This feature produces aperfectly flat or level upper surface 20, regardless of the position orposture of the lower platform 21. In FIG. 2 a fastener 87 secures theangle joint(s) to the upper and lower support platforms 20 and 21.

This allows the user to perform tasks such as cooking meals, preparingfood, performing maintenance or hobby tasks, or virtually anything thatwould normally be performed on a flat level table surface. It can beprovided in multiple different sizes, but a common size will be 14inches deep by 28 inches wide by 4 inches high, the size needed for acamp stove to sit on. The use of the adjustable leveling table topprovides a means to produce a perfectly flat horizontal surface 20 nomatter where one is at, in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective.

The leveling table top 19 can be provided in multiple different sizes,but a common size is envisioned as 4 feet deep and 5 feet wide, but canbe as large as 4 feet deep and 8 feet wide to even larger in size. Theleveling table top 19 could also be made in as small as 12 inches by 18inches or smaller.

FIG. 1 shows adjustable legs 71-73 that use a single leg that isretained in the lower supports 50-53 and slides in the upper retainerwhere it is locked into position. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 theadjustable legs 70-77 do not extend above the top surface of the upperplatform 20. The adjustment of the legs 70-77 is with telescoping legsthat telescope slide into each other to alter the overall length of thelegs.

Once the legs 70-73 or 70-77 are locked, the provide support to theouter edge of the upper surface 20 in both tension and compression asthe upper surface 20 and the lower surface 21 use the ball 31 and socket30 supports as a supporting fulcrum.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the leveling table top 10. This figureshows the lower surface 21 with the foot pads 40. While foot pads 40 areshown it is also contemplated that the foot pads 40 could be stakes 43of elongated legs. While four foot pads 40 are shown, there could be asfew as three foot pads because three points establish a planar surface.The angle joints 50-53 connect into the lower surface 21 and anglejoints 54-57 connect into the upper surface 20.

The gimbal is also shown in the exploded view where the top of thegimbal 36 connects into the upper surface 20 and the bottom of thegimbal 35 connects to the bottom surface 21. The locking arm 32 issecurable into a complementary hole 34 in the gimbal with the ball 31and socket 30. Level 22 provides a visual indicator when the uppersurface 20 is in a level orientation. This exploded view uses thetelescoping tubes 70-77 that telescope slide together to alter thedistance between the corner dimensions of the leveling table top 19.Locking knobs or thumbscrews 60-63 are used to loosen and tighten theconnection between the telescoping tubes 70-77. This figure furthershows optional handles 81, 82, and 83 that can be placed on the sides ofthe top surface for lifting the leveling table top or to prevent itemsfrom rolling or sliding off of the side to the top surface. It is alsocontemplated that the handles 81-83 can be used as tie-downs.

FIG. 5 shows a first preferred embodiment of the adjustable legs 70-73.In this embodiment the adjustable legs 70-73 extend above the topsurface of the upper platform 20. The adjustment of the legs 70-73between the lower platform 21 and the upper platform 20 is with legsthat slide through the upper retainer 56 to alter the overall length ofthe legs. Once the length of the legs is established based upon thelevel condition of a level indication that the upper platform is levelthe thumbscrew(s) 66 are tightened to lock the position of the leg(s).

FIG. 6 shows a second preferred embodiment of the adjustable legs. Inthis embodiment the adjustment of the legs 70-77 between the lowerplatform 21 and the upper platform 20 is with telescoping legs 70-77that telescope slide into each other to alter the overall length of thelegs. Once the desired length of the legs is established based upon thelevel condition of a level indicator the thumbscrew(s) 62 are locked andthe lengths of the legs are essentially fixed.

FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of the gimbal. The gimbal has a lowersocket support 30 where the bottom 35 of the lower socket support 30 issecured to lower platform. An arm 32 with a gripping knob 33 is rotatedto pull the ball 31 lifted or pulled into the socket to lock or releasethe ball 31 in the socket respectively. A cone 37 on top of the ball 31has an upper surface 36 that connects to the upper platform 20. When theball 31 and socket 30 are loosened the upper platform 20 pivots in twodirections on the lower platform 21.

Thus, specific embodiments of a leveling table top have been disclosed.It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that manymore modifications besides those described are possible withoutdeparting from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subjectmatter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of theappended claims.

1. A leveling table top comprising: a lower surface; an upper surfacethat is distal from said lower surface; a gimbal that is essentiallylocated in a center of said lower surface and said upper surface tothereby provide an adjustable angular orientation between said uppersurface and said lower surface; at least three adjustable legs that haveadjustable lengths that are secured to said upper surface and said lowersurface with angle joints, and a level that indicates the levelorientation of said upper surface.
 2. The leveling table top accordingto claim 1 wherein said level is a bubble level.
 3. The leveling tabletop according to claim 1 wherein said gimbal is lockable and unlockable.4. The leveling table top according to claim 3 wherein said gimbal islockable and unlockable by rotating a control arm on said gimbal.
 5. Theleveling table top according to claim 3 wherein said gimbal is lockableand unlockable by lifting a control arm on said gimbal.
 6. The levelingtable top according to claim 3 wherein said gimbal is lockable andunlockable by pulling a control arm on said gimbal.
 7. The levelingtable top according to claim 1 wherein said angular adjustment is frontto back.
 8. The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein saidangular adjustment is left to right.
 9. The leveling table top accordingto claim 1 that further includes at least three foot pads.
 10. Theleveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said upper platformcreates a level work surface when at least three foot pads on said lowersurface are placed on an uneven surface.
 11. The leveling table topaccording to claim 10 that further includes at least three foot spikes.12. The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said upperplatform creates a level work surface when said at least three footspikes are placed on an uneven surface.
 13. The leveling table topaccording to claim 12 wherein said upper surface and said lower surfaceare essentially the same size.
 14. The leveling table top according toclaim 1 wherein said adjustable legs are adjustable by using telescopingmembers.
 15. The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein saidadjustable legs are adjustable by clamping a tubular member in saidangle joints.
 16. The leveling table top according to claim 1 whereinsaid leveling table top is rectangular, square, triangular or round. 17The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said upper surfaceis essentially flat. 18 The leveling table top according to claim 1wherein said upper platform has up-turned edges and corners. 19 Theleveling table top according to claim 1 wherein the distance between amiddle of said upper surface and a middle of said lower surface remainsessentially the same regardless of the angular orientation between saidupper surface and said lower surface.
 20. The leveling table topaccording to claim 1 that further includes the method of making andsecuring the table top level comprising: placing said leveling table topon a surface; loosening said adjustable legs; loosening said gimbal;using said level to orient said top surface to level; tightening saidgimbal, and tightening said adjustable legs.